Sustainable property development in the UK: At a crossroads

UK property development finds itself at a critical juncture: the country is battling historically low housing stock, evolving environmental concerns and a shifting demographic. The country has had a chronic housing shortage for decades, and with house prices continuing to soar, one research report found that England is the most challenging place in the devleoped world to find a home. People under 35- an enormous chunk of the population- are often dubbed 'Generation Rent'.

Meanwhile, in the commercial space, the COVID-19 pandemic brought a dramatic shift in how people work and how companies use office space, compounding an already drastic abandonment of high streets and town centres that have been in slow-motion for decades. 

Pressure on the industry is mounting: the built environment, including residential and commercial buildings, accounts for 25% of the UK's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, according to the UK Green Building Council. 

In one light, these are insurmountable challenges facing the industry and its financial backers; in another, there are endless opportunities- including plenty of low-hanging fruit. One thing is sure: the property development needs to take significant steps to become more sustainable. 

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